From Munich to Dover: what was your entrepreneurial vision that enabled you to turn a crisis into a new opportunity for growth?
“It all started three years ago, when I learned from the newspapers how Brexit had created a customs turmoil, and the British authorities were busy looking for models to follow in reorganizing their system. I sensed that this situation could represent a great opportunity for us as well. Brexit had transformed the United Kingdom from a member of the European Union, with open borders and customs-free trade, into an external state, similar to Switzerland. This meant that all customs clearance had to be reorganized, with new regulations and procedures. It was clear that our Swiss experience could be important.”

What were the next steps in the implementation of this project?
“Immediately I started planning how to turn this vision into reality. We immediately contacted Alessandro Butti, an experienced family friend and entrepreneur who is a well-known and highly regarded Italian customs officer. His experience in the field and his enthusiasm were immediately apparent. Before long, there were already three of us: me, my father and Alessandro Butti. While my father and Alessandro, perhaps because of their daily commitments, saw this venture as a long-term project, I was already at work.”

The beginnings, however, encountered not a few difficulties…
“Indeed. Our adventure began just as the pandemic broke out in the world. In any case, at a time of full lockdown and a distance of more than 600 miles, we decided to open a company in the United Kingdom, in Dover, inspired by the Swiss model. With the help of two new employees and an office in historic downtown Dover, Franzosini & Butti Ltd took shape. Amazingly, we accomplished all this without ever being physically on site. We recruited collaborators without meeting them in person and chose our office based on virtual visits. Already this was a great first step toward success. Determination, practical sense, and entrepreneurial skills took over. Even the most difficult project could be schematized in such a way that it could be undertaken and carried out.Thus Franzosini & Butti Ltd. was born. The company began operating immediately, even before we had finalized the opening of a bank account, which in the United Kingdom is a fairly lengthy procedure, offering the first services free of charge to our clients for at least two months and to ensure that their intra-Community movements would not be interrupted. This approach allowed us to quickly build a solid reputation based on trust and reliability.”

“Teamwork, combining the enthusiasm and innovation of young people with the wisdom and experience of veterans, is the key to overcoming any challenge.”

How did you solve the problem of operating in a vastly different customs regulatory framework?
“There were no guidelines to follow, so we were forced to chart a new course. Moreover, everything was carried out without benefiting from any government subsidies or support either in Switzerland or Great Britain. The experience I had gained from opening the office in Monaco was crucial. The presence in the field, the ability to coordinate operations with the parent company, and the attention to detail had enabled Franzosini Monaco Sarl to become the first company authorized as a customs operator directly by the customs of the Principality. As Director and partner also of the English company, I personally took care of all practical matters in collaboration with the parent company Tepoorten Group SA and Alessandro Butti, setting the new office on the principles of efficiency, competence and speed that distinguish the services offered by the group. Within a few months, the Dover office was open and operational, ready to provide efficient and innovative customs services. Its opening marked a turning point for the Tepoorten Group, proving that with the right leadership and a clear vision, it is possible to thrive even in the most difficult times.”

Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future?
“We have some very ambitious plans. We want to further expand our activities in the United Kingdom, opening new customs agencies in the main English ports and developing an operations department dedicated to handling domestic English and Sea freight shipments, with the aim of offering an increasingly comprehensive and integrated service to our customers. Our determination and spirit of innovation have enabled us to turn an idea into a successful reality, and we are ready to face with enthusiasm the new challenges that the future holds.”

What are the values that drive your Group’s activities and therefore determine its success?
“Teamwork, combining the enthusiasm and innovation of young people with the wisdom and experience of veterans, is the key to overcoming any challenge. The history of the Tepoorten Group shows how an entrepreneurial vision, together with unity and collaboration, can turn crises into opportunities.”